Thank you for viewing this fundraiser. I am currently trying to raise money to help my boyfriend, Winston Burkhardt, in his ongoing battle with Granulomatosis, formerly known as Wegner's Vasculitis. Granulomatosis is a vascular autoimmune disease that targets the body's blood vessels and major organs through inflammation. As of today, only 3 out of 100,000 people are diagnosed with this disease. Untreated, this disease is often fatal, but with proper treatment and medications, remission is possible.

Winston was first admitted to the hospital in critical condition in early May of this year after a trip to urgent care, and has been working towards recovery ever since. Winston's onset was very rapid and caught us all by surprise. He quickly lost use of his arms and legs due to rheumatoid arthritis, followed by severe pneumonia and shortness of breath. He was placed on oxygen and began a steroid cycle to reduce his swelling and slow the pooling of blood in his lungs. After two weeks in the hospital involving many blood tests, x-rays, and a bronchoscopy with lung washout, the 10+ doctors treating him were finally able to reach a diagnosis and send him home with a plan.

As of today, Winston is attending biweekly doctors appointments as well as having routine bloodwork performed. Treatment for this disease consists of heavy medication, weekly infusions, followed by physical therapy and supplemental oxygen. In following this plan, our goal is to reach remission in which the disease becomes dormant and allows him to live a relatively normal life. Currently, this autoimmune disease has no cure and is being studied worldwide. While his life has been forever changed, he says his future goals remain the same. He is a fighter and believes this disease is simply another one of life's challenges and a chance for him to grow to become a better person.

Winston is a certified Type 2 wildland firefighter and interstate truck driver. He has dreams of moving to Montana to pursue his career in serving his community as well as his family. I want to help him in any way possible and with your support, we can help him reach his goal of remission. I'm asking for anything you can do to help cover his ongoing treatment costs, hospital stay, medications, and physical therapy. Winston and I have been together going on four years now, and have many wonderful plans for our future together. Our dreams and plans were almost gone in a blink of an eye due to this condition's severity and rapid progression. However, with the help of many doctors, he is now stabilizing and we are blessed with a second chance at life together. He is and has always been so selfless, kind, and caring towards those he loves. Now I am doing what I can in return, and I am asking for your help and support so that we may reach these goals. This disease may not yet be curable, but that will never stop him from making the best of his life. Words cannot express our gratitude for your support, thoughts, and prayers through these uncertain times. Please join me today in easing the burden of medical bills for Winston, so he can focus on his recovery rather than worrying about the costs of his next treatments.